Multiple connector



Off 28 19.47- D. GoTTLlEB TAL MULTIPLE CONNECTOR 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed May 18, 1946 all!! l 0ct.28,1947. D, GOTmjEB ETAP. 2,429,810

MULTIPLE CONNECTOR Filed May 18. 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented ct. 28,

MULTIPLE CONNECTOR i Davia Gottlieb and Anthony v. Jerara,

Chicago, Ill.

VApplication May 18, 1946, Serial No. 670,678

This invention relates tofcertain new and useful improvements'in multiple connectors. More particularly the inventionrelates to a jack and a plug construction and has for its principal. 'object the provision of an vimproved construction of this character which will be highly eicient in use and economical in manufacture.

Among the several objects of the invention is the provision of a jack comprising a plurality of separate and spaced sockets each having the provision of a resilient tongue or extension for retaining the prongs of a plug Within the socket, with the plug and socket Ahaving effective and positive electrical contact with each other;

A still further and equally Yimportant object of the invention is the provision of a jack having one or more sockets eachrformed from a blank, with portions of the blankV providing an extension for the connection," by'means of solder or theJ like, of a conductorwire or wires thereto and a wall'adjacent the extension to prevent admission ofthe solder or connecting material into the socket.

Yet another andv equally important object of the invention resides in the provision of a simple arrangement for mounting the sockets kof the jack upon the mounting plates of the jack.

Another objectof the invention is the provision 4 Claims.` (Cl. 173-41128)v of a multiple connectorhaving parts related with y respect to each other in a manner affording expeditiousassembly of the .jack of the multiple connector, and in which the jack comprises the minimum number of parts, thereby to afford economical manufacture.Y

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention oonsistsrin the novel combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.-

The invention will be best understood by ref- ,Y

erence to the accompanying drawings showing the preferred form of construction, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of aplug and jack embodying the invention; l

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational View ofthesame; Y' 'Y 1 i Fig. 3 is a typical-"end view of the same;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the jack illustrated inFig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional detail view taken substantially on line 5 5 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view of one of the sockets of the jack;

Fig. '7 is a side elevational view similar to that of Fig. 6 showing the reverse side thereof;

construction by which the several Fig. 8 isa planview of one of the sockets removed from its mounting plate.

The drawingsillustrate the preferred form of objects of our invention are accomplished.

Most jacks of aY multiple connector with which we are familiar, prior to the advent of our invention, include af'plurality of Vsockets each having an indented side wall or each provided with a longitudinal slit to provide on opposite sides of the slit resilient walls for yieldably gripping the prongs of a plug. In either case we have found from actual practice that by the projection of the prong into the 'socket and its frequent Vremoval and replacement therein, there results the Ydestruction of the resiliency of the indented wall or the longitudinally slit wall, with the resultthat there is a loose connection between the socket and the prong. In'other words, the frequent insertion of the plug in the socket expands the socket outof its normal position, with the resulting loose connection.

As .heretoforeindicated itis one of the objects of the invention to provide a plug, the sockets of which are so constructed as will assure a positive contact between the sockets and the prongs regardless of the frequent removal and replacement of the prongs. To accomplish this and other objects of kthe invention, we'provide a jack generally indicated at I0, which comprises a separating plate II of elongated formation and of insulating material. Extending in side abutment with this intermediate plate IIA are mounting plates I2 and I3 .likewise formed of insulating materia1. Between the end portions I4 of the plates- I2 'and I3 and theend portions I5 of the plate Il are positioned spacer blocks I 6. These blocksv I6 are provided with angularly formed feet I1 perforated as at I8 to permit passage of a connecting element, such as a screw or vthe like, forco'nnecting thejack I0 to a xed support.v These spacer blocks I6 and the plates IIj, I2 and I3, are secured Vtogether by means of connectingy elements I9 inthe form of nut and-bolt members. y

' The mounting plates I2 and I3 are each provided with slots 2I at opposite longitudinal edge portions 20.

The sockets 22 of the jack are each formed from a blank of conductive material, formed to provide opposite side walls 23 and a medial wall 24, with the medial wall 24 having an extended portion 25 to provide an inclined bottom 26 for the socket 22, and beyond this bottom 26, the extension provides a lip or finger 21, perforated at extensions 29 cooperate to properly locate the sockets in the same horizontal plane and firmly position the sockets upon their respective mounting plates.

In assembling the sockets on their4 respective mounting plates, itis customary for" the operator to form the angularly disposed attaching lugs 30 after the extensions 29 have been positioned in their respective slots 2|.

Each of the sockets 22 has struck from the front wall 24 and inwardly and downwardly, a resilient nger 3;|. The length and k-sh-apeiofthis finger 3| may vary according to the Asize ofthe 4socket and the prong to be engaged therein. With respect to size, itis pointed :out that the drawings accompanying this application illustrate :the .device as being ldrawn on a .two-to-.one scale. This is done for the purpose .of better illustrating the invention and is not to .be :intended ,as ,a limitation to size. Any number of sockets .may be provided and the plug 32 to be associated `therewith 'may comprise `:any number lof prongs 3.3.. This vplug 32 .comprises amounting plate '34 from which the :prongs 33 .extend in pairs .so .as to engage .the sockets on op- Posite sides of the jack.

The lfrequent insertion and withdrawal of lthe prongs in the sockets 1will :in no vway effect the normal PYQected position .of 'the yieldable fingers 3|, and by virtue of .the projection `of these fingers 3 into ethesockets therewill always 'be maintained a positive contact :between the sockets and the prongs of the plug. As the lngers project inwardly and downwardly, ris obvious that little exertion is necessary :for the .insertion of .the prongs in the sockets; itl-iat the withdrawal .of the prongs from the sockets ,is in `a -direction away from the fingers .313; and it will .be apparent that there w-illalwayspbe a. Contact .between the prongs and the sockets until the prongs completely vdiseneaeethe ngers 3i. Therefore, by reason thereof, an inadvertent partial Ainsertion .ofthe prongs in the sockets will, vunlike multiple .connectors With which 'we are familiar prior to .our invention, :nevertheless result in :a positive and eifective .Contact between the sockets and the prongs.

The extended vport-'ion 2,5 :providing the bottom wall :2E for Athe sockets, prevents the admission of solder into the sockets during the connection of the conductorwires `with the lips 21. `This :is .of particular advantage because yshould the operator making the `,connection lsae'tvveen the connector wire and the lips 'ldoso with the sockets turned upside down, the .absence `of thisbottom wall would allow the molded .solder` to run into the socket and thereby interfere vwith the function of the fingers 3| and the insertion 'olif the `prong in .the.socket.

As our multiple connector comprises few parts which are simple in construction, it is manifest that assembly is greatly facilitated and the cost thereof reduced to a minimum.

While we have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying our invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modication without departing from the .spiritnf the invention. We, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail ourselves of such variations and modications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new .and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A socket for a jack of a multiple connector comprising a body providing side walls and an intermediate front wall, with the front wall pierced -to provide an inwardly and downwardly extending yieldable finger, the side walls having extending from the free edges thereof angularly disposed attachment lugs -adaptedfor attachment to a mountingplate, and the front wall providing an extension having an intermediate portion providing `a bottom wall for the socket, and-an fupper portion providing a perforated lip adapted for connection to a conductor wire.

2. A `socket for `a jack of a multiple connector comprising a body providing vside `walls Iand an intermediateV front wall, with the front wall pierced to prov-ide an inwardly and downwardly extending yieldable nger, the side walls having extending from the free edges thereof angularly disposed attachment lugs adapted for attachment to .a mounting plate, .and the front wall providing an .extension vhaving an intermediate portion providing a bottom wal-1 for the socket.

3. A socket for a jack of .a multiple connector ,comprising a body'having means for attachment to .a :mounting plate, and a front wall pierced to provide an .inwardly and downwardly extending ;yieldable finger, the front wall having an exten- REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record inthe file of this patent: i

, UNTTED STATES PATENTS Number l l vName Date 1,331,928 Katzung Feb. `24 1920 2,145,949 -Obszarny Feb. 7, 1939 2,157,428 Obszarny May -9, v1939 2,274,454 Murphy s Feb. 24, 1942 

